Automatic water-h eater



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. L. MILLER. AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER.

No. 606,068. Patented June 21,1898.

W/TNESSES IN VENTOR Maw 41% (No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. L. MILLER. I w

AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER.

N0. 606,068. Patented Jun eZ1,1 898.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR,

valves or faucets through which the hot wa times STATES PATENT rrrcn.

AUTOMATIC WATER-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION; for ing part of Letters Patent no. 606,068, dated June21, 1898.

' Application filed ober 1} 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM LhlILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pitts! burg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and usefulImprovement in Automatic Water-Heaters, of which improve ment thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improvement in automaticwater-heaters; and to this end it consists in a new and improvedwater-heater, in new and improved means for controlling and regulatingthe supply of heat, and in certain combinations and features ofconstruction, all as hereinafterfully setforth.

My invention provides a new and improved automatic water-heater forsupplying hot water to one or more faucets in which the supply of heatto a water-receptacle in which the water is to be heated is controlledby varia tions in the pressure of the water in the outlet pipe orpassage, caused by'opening or closing, or partly opening or closing, oneor more ter is drawn off for use.

My improved heater is efficient in operation, is adapted to furnish asupply of hot water practically instantaneously, is simple and in-.expensive in construction, and dispenses with objectionable featuresheretofore employed in heaters of this class-such, for example, as awater-controlling valve whose movement depends on or controls thevelocity of flow of the water through the heater,and which is usuallyconnected with the gas-controlling valve for regulating the supply ofheat. In such constructions as have been employed heretofore theemployment of. the water-valve involves either the employment of twoseparate valve devices and two separate casings with stuffing-boxes andobjectionable outside connections, or else the construction is not suchas to prevent the admission of water to the gas pipe or passages and toform at the same time a sensitive or easily-operated valve device forcontrolling the supply of heat.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an appliction of myinvention, Figure 1 is a central vertical section through an automaticwater-heater constructed in accordance Serial No. 653,670. (NemodeL)with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the regulating device, andFig. 3 is a central section through a modification of myimprove- 'm'ent.

of supply are connected with the regulator and are at all times in opencommunication with one another through the passage 8, the capacity orcross-sectional area of which should be about the same as that of thecoil 1.

The width of the-port 8 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of thedrawings should therefore be somewhat greater than the width, as shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings. The pipe 7 may be connected to the upperportion 6 of the regulator, if preferred, or the coil 1 and the pipe '7from the main may be directly connected with one another outside of theregulator.

The regulator, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises an upper portion 6and a lower portion 9, between which is clamped a movable abutment ordiaphragm 10, the under side of which is at all times exposed to thepressure in the pipe 7 and in the end portion 5 of the coil 1, the waterbeing admitted to the under side of the diaphragm through the passage11. A smaller abutment or diaphragm 12 is held in placeby a cap 13,whichis secured to the lower portion of the regulator, and the twodiaphragms are connected by means of a stem 14, to the lower end ofwhich is secured a valve 15 for controlling the port 16, through whichgas is supplied to the burner. The seat of the valve 15 is formed on theinner side of the cap 13, and the gas-supply pipe 17 is connected to ascrewthreaded passage formed in the cap. The smaller diaphragm 12separates the water-chamber between the two diaphragms from thevalve-chamber and prevents the passage of water into the gas pipes orpassages.

Passages 18 and 19 lead from the valvechamber to the jet 20, whichdelivers the gas into the perforated tube 26. The tube 26 forms amixing-chamber for the air and gas, the air being admitted theretothrough the lower open end, and the gas is burned outside of the tube 26as it issues from the small holes 21. A small pipe 23 extends upwardfrom the pipe 17, and at its upper end is provided with a 'burner whichis always lighted and which ignites the gas as it escapes from the mainburner 26. p

The chamber above the diaphragm 10 com-' municates with the outlet endof the coil 1 or, as shown in the drawings, with a pipe 22, leading tothe valve or valves controlling the discharge of water from the heater.For this purpose a pipe 25 is shown leading from thechamber above thediaphragm to the outletpipe 22, but, if preferred, the outlet-pipe orthe outlet end of the coil may be directly connected to the upperportion of the regulator, and the connecting-passage between the pipe orcoil and the chamber above the diaphragm may be formed in the casting 6.

It will be seen that in my improvement there is a continuously-open freepassage from the inlet or supply pipe 7 through the coil to the outletor delivery pipe 22 and that theflow of water through the heater istherefore unobstructed except by the outlet valve 01 valves, throughwhich the hot water is drawn when needed.

When the heater is not in use, the gas-valve is held closed by thewater-pressure above the diaphragm 10 and by the pressure of the spring24. hen no water is being drawn, the effective pressure ofthe waterabove the diaphragm will always be greater than the eifective pressureof the water below the diaphragm, because the pressure on the smalldiaphragm is downward and counterbalauces a portion of the upwardpressure.

The coil 1 is preferably made of thin copper or other piping .of goodconducting ma terial, and on account of the great number of coilspresents a large heating-surface.

On the opening of one or more of the fan cets or valves through whichthe hot water is drawn off the pressure on the upper side of thediaphragm will be reduced and the pressurebelow the diaphragm will movethe diaphragm upward and unseat the valve 15. Gas will then flow to theburner, where it will be ignited by the flame at the upper end ofthe-small pipe 23, and the coil and the water passing through it will bequickly heated. The chamber above the diaphragm being directly connectedwith the outlet portion of the heater any reduction of pressure in the}outlet, such as maybe caused by opening onei ormore faucets, will beimmediately effectivel toperinit the upward movement of the dia-{ phragmby the pressure from the main which acts on the under side of thediaphragm and which is admitted thereto through the pas-l sage 11. l

The cross-sectional area of the pipe 7 rela-;' tive to thecross-sectional area of the coil 1 and also the capacity of the passage11 should be such that a steady pressure, substantially the same as thepressure in the main, maybe maintained below the diaphragm 10.

The water supplied to the heater through the pipe 7 will fill thechamber below the diaphragm l0 and flow through the passage 8 and coil 1to the outlet-pipe 22, and the pressure in the chamber above thediaphragm 10 and in the small pipe 25 will be the same as in theoutlet-pipe. There need not be any flow or circulation of waterthroughthe chamber below the diaphragm 10 or through the chamber above thediaphragm, and the only thin g necessary to operate the gas-con trollingvalve is a variation in the outlet-pressu1'c, and this variation neednot produce any ma terial variation in the pressure in the chamber belowthe diaphragm.

The operation of my improved heaterisnot dependent on the velocity offlow of the water to the heater or throughthe heater, but only on avariation of pressure such as might act later to vary the velocity ofthe water or to impart velocity to or overcome the velocity of thewater. A change in the pressure in the outlet-pipe and in the chamberabove the diaphragm may be effected almost instantly, while to changethe motion of the water or to put it in motion through the coil, whichforms a long and tortuouspassage, would require a considerable intervalof time.

When water is flowing through the coil,

there is a considerable difference in the pressureat the inlet andoutlet ends of the coil and any variation at the outlet will be felt ator near the inlet end of the coil only after a considerable interval oftime. In my improvement the operation of the valve is practicallyinstantaneous and no interval of time is necessary, such as thatrequired to transmit a variation in pressure or velocity from one end ofthe coil to the other.

My improved heater is perfectly free from danger of explosion, as thepressure in the coil can never exceed the pressure in the main, becausethe coil is always in open communication with the water-main. In case,therefore, thatthe gas-controlling valve 15 should fail to close whenthe faucet or faucets are shut off no amount of heating can cause anexplosion.

In case of a break in the main or in the supply-pipe 7 the water willescape from the under side of the diaphragm and the valve 15 will close.If there is no pressure acting on the diaphragm, the valve will beclosed by the action of the spring 24. The tension of the spring 24 neednot be any greater than is necessary to close the valve and to keep itclosed when the diaphragm 10 is relieved of other pressure, so that thedifference in the water-pressures above and below the diaiphragm lOwhich will be required to move the diaphragm and open the valve need notbe much greater than that due to the difference in the effective areasof the opposite sides of the diaphragm 10. 1

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a heater embodying my inventionin which the heating-coil 1 is formedof a tube or pipe which isapproximately elliptical in cross-section. The coil is made of thincopper or other good conducting material, the end portions 5 and 5 ofwhich are circular in cross-section, and the remainder of the coil,which forms the heating portion of the coil, is flattened by beingpassed between rolls or byany other preferred means. Preferably thepiping of which the coil is made is at first circular in cross-.

section and is afterward flattened out to any extent desired by a simpleand inexpensive process. The object in giving the piping the particularform referred to is to increase the heating effect by increasing theheating-surface relative to the quantity of water contained in the coil.Thisis accomplished by giving the flattened or elliptical shape to thepipe withoutincreasing the length of the pipe. This particular form ofpiping is specially adapted for employment in my improved heater, inwhich the pressure within the coil and pipes is limited to the pressurein the water-supply main, and the pressure will therefore never be greatenough to change the form of the cross-section of the pipe, as it mightbe in steam-boilers or in water-heaters in which it is possible toaccumulate a greater pressure than the pressure in the main. Any

tendency to change of form of the cr0ss-sec-.

tion is further counteracted in my improvement by the coiled form of thepiping and the comparatively small diameter of the coils. In myimprovement there can be no change of form of the cross-section of thepipe without a change of form or straightening of the coils, and itwould require an enormously high pressure, very much in excess of anypressure which can be obtained in the coil, to effect any such change inthe form of the coil. The material of which the pipe is made may be verythin, so as to permit rapid heating without any danger of rupturingthepipe on account of the limited pressure.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings the outlet-pipe from the water-supply main isto be connected to the screw-threaded nozzle 27, which is integral withthe upper portion 28 of the regulator, and the inlet end 5 of theheating-coil is connected with the inlet-nozzle 27 by means of a union29, so that there is a full and free opening through the nozzle into andthrough the inlet end 5 of the heating-coil. The outlet end 5 of theheating-coil is similarly connected by means of a union 30 with the outlet-nozzle 31, which is screw-threaded to receive one end of theoutlet-pipe which leads to the outlet valves or faucets, through whichthe hot water is drawn for use. The outletnozzle 31 is formed integralwith the lower portion 32 of the regulator. The upper and lower portions28 and 32 of the regulator are secured together by bolts 33, and betweenthem is clamped a diaphragm 34, which divides the interior into twochambers 35 and 36. The upper chamber 35 is at all times in opencommunication with the water-supply main and with the inlet end of theheatingcoil through the passages 37 and 38, and the threaded bolt andnuts or by any desired means which will cause them to move together. Agas-controlling valve 42, which is secured to the diaphragms and isadapted to be moved by them, is'normally held closed by the unbalancedupward pressure of the water on the lower side of the diaphragm 34 andthe pressure of the spring 43.

The gas-supply pipe is connected to the nozzle 45, formed integral withthe upper side of the regulator, and the gas is admitted to thevalve-chamber through the passage 44. The gas-valve 42 controls thesupply of gas to the jet 46, from which it passes into the burner 47.

The burner 47 is preferably circular in shape and is provided withopenings or perforations 48, through which. the mixed air and gas passfrom the interior of the burner and at which they are ignited. The upperportion of the interior of the burner curves downwardly from its outerupper portion toward the center and toward the jet 46, and the lowerportion of the burner. is provided with a conical hood or short flaringpipe,which surrounds the jet 46 and into which airis admitted throughopenings 49.

Both the air and gas in flowing into the burner impinge on the sides 50of the central tapered portion or deflector 51 and are then reverberatedand mixed with a whirling action against the wall of the burner beforepassing out through the openings 48, where they are ignited.

A small pipe 52 is connected with the interior of the nozzle 45, and onthe end of the pipe 52 is a burner 53, which'lnay be kept burning forthe purpose of igniting the gas from the openings in the main burner 47.The supply of gas to the small burner 53 is controlled by a valve 54.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings a full and free openpassage is shown from the connection with the main supplypipe throughthe coil to the outlet connection heater, by which the flow of waterthrough from the burner 53 and the water in thecoih will be heated.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings the outercasing 2, within which theheating-coil is inclosed,

is secured at its lowerend to a-casting 55, to: which are bolted thesupports 56. A screw-1 threaded nipple 54,which extends downward fromthe gas-jet 46 of the burner, passes through thecasting 55 and screwsinto the upward extension 59 of the regulator, thereby clamping theregulator to'the casting 55. Al bolt 57 passes through the top plate orcovera 58 of the casing and at its lower end screws into the burner 47,thereby securing the regu-i lator, the casting 55, and the burnerandthe} top of the casinglfirmly together and forming? a rigid supportforthe ends of the coil.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings the principal fea} tures of my improvement areclearly shown,; and that construction may be regarded asa} preferredform of my improvement; but my invention is not limited to all thedetails of construction shown in any of the drawings. An importantfeature of my invention is the; free and unobstructed passage throughthe theheater is unaffected by and independenti of any regulatin g-valveor other deviceexcepti the outlet valve or valves through which hot.water is drawn for use. Another important; feature of my invention isthe means for regu-; lating the supply of heat by variation in the;pressure of the water at or near the outlet ofj the heater, by which theopening and closing of the gas-supply valve may be quickly and;certainly effected. 1

By means of the flattened or elliptical form; given to the piping in theheating-coil the. thickness of the body of water therein is so smallthat the heat can quickly pass to the center of the mass of water andthe water can be very quickly and uniformly heated throughout its wholemass without even a local circulation of the particles, such as isrequired in a coil of circular section before the central portion of thewater therein can be heated. The form of the mass ofwater in theheating-coil is that of a liquid ribbon, the thickness of which may beso slight that the heating of the whole mass may be practicallyinstantaneous.

The burner and mixingdevice shown in Fig. 3 is preferably circular inform in its upper part, and the whole device may be made of one integralcasting. It will be seen that when air and gas are being admitted to theburner the gas will strike first against the defleeting-surface 50 ofthe downwardly-projecting part 51 and will be deflected outwardlytherefrom in all directions, 'so that it will with a whirling actionmingle with the entering air inthe annular passage 60 and in the chamber61.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In anautomatic water-heater, thecombination, with a water-receptacle havinginlet and outlet passages communicatingtherewith, of a heat-supplyingdevice, a heat-regulator, and direct connections with opposite sides ofthe regulator,outside of the waterreceptacle, fromtheinlet and outletpassages to the heat-regulator whereby the supply of heat may becontrolled by a difference in the inlet and outletrpressures of thewater, sub- -stantially as setforth.

2. Inan automatic waterheater, the combination, with awater-receptacle,of inlet and outlet passages communicating with thereceptacle, means for heating the water-receptacle, a heat-regulatoroutside of the direct flow of water, comprising a valve for controllingthe supply of heat and a movable abutment for actuating the valve, adirect connection from the outlet-passageto one side of the abutment anda connection from the inlet-passage to the opposite side of theabutment, whereby the abutment may be operated by variationsof pressurein the outlet from the water-receptacle, substantially as set forth.

3. In an automatic water-heater, the combination, with a heating-coil,of a heat-sup ply, a heat-regulator, outside of the direct flow ofwater, comprising a valve for controlling the supply of heat to the coiland a movable abutment for operating the valve,

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which is exposed to the pressure of the water at or near the inlet andoutlet portions of the coil, substantially as set forth.

4:. In an automatic water-heater, the combination, with awater-receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, of a heat-supply,

a heat-regulator outside of the direct flow of water and subjected 011one side to the pressure of water flowingto the water-receptacle and onthe other side to the pressure of water flowing from the receptacle,substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic;water-heater, the combination, with awater-receptacle having inlet and outlet passages, of a water-supplypipe, means for heating the water-receptacle,a heatcontrolling deviceoutside of the water-supply pipe and the direct flow of water, andconneeted with the inlet and outlet passages of the water-receptaclewhereby variations of pressure between the inlet and outlet passageswill operate the controlling device, substantially as set forth.

6. In an automatic water-heater, the combination, with awater-receptacle having in- ITS outlet-passage of the Water-receptacle,substantially as set forth. IO

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM L. MILLER. Witnesses:

HENRY D. ATWOOD,

E. GALLAGHER.

